Thursday, October 13, 2016

Six of Swords – Running away doesn’t solve anything

Today's word
to draw a card with is “Scarecrow” and it made me think about how some birds keep coming back to feed on the
crops even though there is a scarecrow defending the fields. So what is an obnoxious
ever returning thought (bird) which undermines my physical and emotional
well being (fields) and I drew the Six of Swords from the Original Rider Waite
Tarot.

This card often tempts me to mentally pick up my stuff and run: to ignore
what has to be done, procrastinate and try to look the other way. Is this working
for me? Of course not but flight is of my main reactions to stress. Yet, after I’ve
sailed away from my problems, my worries or anxiety, I notice that I took my swords
with me in the form of guilt, shame and regret. So there is no real escape from
our own mind.

I wondered what
stuffing my scarecrow would need to become a bigger threat to this persistent
bird and I drew the Two of Pentacles. Instead of running away this card advises
me to accept the stormy waters; the emotional upheaval. In order not to drown in
it the Two of Pentacles asks us to focus on our tasks at hand. Tasks that
require a certain balance and attention, so our mind is free from worrying for a
while. When you are busy in the here and now it is more than likely you will receive
a fresh look on whatever is bothering you.

10 comments:

Your post brings to mind an old adage or saying. "Wherever you go there you are" I thought about running away from my life a number times over the years, the first time I was about 21 and someone I worked with said "go ahead and go, if that's what you need to do, but remember who you are doesn't change." Hope you find your balance today.

Your post rings true for me too; it makes no sense to try to outrun our thoughts. For me it is much better to investigate rather than avoid. If I check fact-check the story around them, I can figure out if there is any truth there. If so, I can do what I can to change things; if not, I can realize my emotions are driving a delusion that isn't real.

I've always found the best way to get out of my own way, past my worry and anxiety is to focus on helping someone else. Sometimes praying for them is always a good thing to do for anyone if you can't help in any other way. I spent a good portion of my life running away from reality at the bottom of a bottle. No freedom, peace of mind or bird of happiness to be found there!